Film: Blue Gold: World Water Wars Director: Bozzo, Sam Year: 2010
What is the central argument or narrative of the film? The global supply of potable drinking water is not only being depleted faster than it can be naturally restored, but the water that is available is being handed over to private multinational corporations. Multinational organizations such as the World Trade Organization and World Bank have made it easier for corporations to highjack local water supplies and exploit them for profit. The scarcity of potable drinking water is a huge politically destabilizing factor around the globe. The solution is to return water back to the people and to develop civilizations based on what the region can support in terms of population and development.
What sustainability problems does the film draw out? Privatization of Water Water in the 21st century is rarely considered a public resource. Instead it is treated as an economic resource. Private corporations have taken control of much of the world’s fresh water supply. These corporations remove the water from the region and export it to far away cities through pipes or as bottled water. In developing countries and in some first world countries they raise the prices, provide inconsistent service, and deliver water of poor quality. Local populations have no say in how their water is managed and it often leads to severe environmental consequences. International Organizations The World Trade Organization forces countries to sign and accept free trade agreements which prevent them from selling their crops at fair market values. This forces countries to produce cash crops rather than crops to feed their population. These cash crops often are extremely water intensive and destroy the water resources where they are grown. The World Bank forces countries to privatize their water resources in exchange for aid. For every US$1 that is spent on foreign aid through the World Bank returns on investment will be US$1.30 for American businesses. Corporations are making money by exploiting the poorest of the poor. Together these two organizations contribute to the destabilization of third world nations and the environment. Legal System The U.S. legal system makes it extremely hard for citizens and grassroots organizations to have an effect on stopping corporate mismanagement of public resources. The current legal system allows for SLAPP suits to be filed against individuals as a form of intimidation. The appeals system also makes it far too easy for corporations to breeze through the legal system as evidenced by Nestle being able to begin pumping water in Michigan 3 days after being shut down by the court. It is a very challenging struggle for organizations and people to fight against large corporations in the legal system.
What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why? The best example of how corporations are exploiting developing nations for their water is through inflating the prices to unreasonable levels. The comparisons of the price of Coke-Cola to Dasani water while the Coke-Cola representative flat out lied about how the price is driven by the bottle material and the content. Another convincing part of the film was the example of how citizens fought against nestle in Wisconsin and Michigan. This part of the film demonstrated just how hard it is for local people to fight against corporations. The example of civil unrest in Bolivia was a very graphic example of how water issues will be dominant issues in the coming decades.
What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by? Why? I was not thoroughly convinced that the depletion of aquifers is resulting in sink holes. There did not seem to be enough examples of sink hole formation and the film did not go in depth enough about how removing water in the aquifer would destabilize the soil. Additionally I was not convinced that the asphalt blocking the rain water was as severe as stated. Although I understand that there are sever water runoff issues due to the urban effect I think that there should have been better data presented on how much water is being blocked from draining into the aquifers. I was also not convinced by the connections that the film drew between Vincente Fox and Coke-Cola. The film made the connection that Fox had worked for Coke, but the accusations of special interest could be explained away as coincidental. There should have been more data to support Fox’s involvement with Coke after he was elected president. Showing a plethora of pictures of Coke in Mexico did not convince me because Coke is such global brand that a similar collage could be made for almost every place around the globe.
What audiences does the film best address? Why? This film best addresses people that are skeptical that water management and water scarcity are severe issues. This is for the people who believe that although the water cycle is infinite and that we cannot run out of potable water. The examples that were presented were very dramatic and at some points graphic. This movie was meant to be a wake up and a call to action for those that were previously unfamiliar with the issue. The solutions that were presented ranged from large scale changes to individual interventions. This affords viewers the information necessary to help be a part of the solution at whatever level they can best help; whether they begin to organize grassroots efforts to effectively manage local water supplies or just make small changes to how they water their lawns.
What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value? The information about the amount of water used for creating a barrel of oil or the amount of oil used in certain industrial processes should have been broken down into subcategories. It would have helped to know what that water was used for rather than just making a blanket statement about how much water to use. The subcategories would have helped the view to think of points of intervention to make changes to the process and see where water is being wasted. Another piece of information that could have been implemented in the movie would have been a study of the destruction of wetlands. The film never explained why the wetlands were so significant or how they were being destroyed.
What kinds of actions and points of intervention are suggested by the film? If the film itself does not suggest corrective action, describe actions that you can imagine being effective. The film suggests that the best way to preserve the world water resources is to convert water from a commodity back to a public trust. This will allow for the local governments to control the use of their local water supplies as opposed to having large corporation buying, selling, misusing, or exporting the local water supplies. Citizens must also unite, as exemplified by the people of Wisconsin and Michigan, to fight corporate exploitation of water resources. On a design level sidewalks should be designed to allow water to permeate into the soil rather then run off into the rivers and streams. Water Collection holes should be dug to allow the rain water to permeate back into the soil after a rain storm instead of running off. The agriculture system should switch over to hydroponics that are connected to living machines that can clean, purify, and add nutrients to back into the water. In a personal manner individuals need to learn to conserve water when using the bathroom and through their lawn care practices.
What additional information has this film compelled you to seek out? This film made me extremely interested in SLAPP suits. My first matrix presentation is based off corporate intimidation of activists and activist groups. For further information please read my matrix1 presentation at Sshh! The Silencing of Democracy.
Director: Bozzo, Sam
Year: 2010
What is the central argument or narrative of the film?
The global supply of potable drinking water is not only being depleted faster than it can be naturally restored, but the water that is available is being handed over to private multinational corporations. Multinational organizations such as the World Trade Organization and World Bank have made it easier for corporations to highjack local water supplies and exploit them for profit. The scarcity of potable drinking water is a huge politically destabilizing factor around the globe. The solution is to return water back to the people and to develop civilizations based on what the region can support in terms of population and development.
What sustainability problems does the film draw out?
Privatization of Water
Water in the 21st century is rarely considered a public resource. Instead it is treated as an economic resource. Private corporations have taken control of much of the world’s fresh water supply. These corporations remove the water from the region and export it to far away cities through pipes or as bottled water. In developing countries and in some first world countries they raise the prices, provide inconsistent service, and deliver water of poor quality. Local populations have no say in how their water is managed and it often leads to severe environmental consequences.
International Organizations
The World Trade Organization forces countries to sign and accept free trade agreements which prevent them from selling their crops at fair market values. This forces countries to produce cash crops rather than crops to feed their population. These cash crops often are extremely water intensive and destroy the water resources where they are grown. The World Bank forces countries to privatize their water resources in exchange for aid. For every US$1 that is spent on foreign aid through the World Bank returns on investment will be US$1.30 for American businesses. Corporations are making money by exploiting the poorest of the poor. Together these two organizations contribute to the destabilization of third world nations and the environment.
Legal System
The U.S. legal system makes it extremely hard for citizens and grassroots organizations to have an effect on stopping corporate mismanagement of public resources. The current legal system allows for SLAPP suits to be filed against individuals as a form of intimidation. The appeals system also makes it far too easy for corporations to breeze through the legal system as evidenced by Nestle being able to begin pumping water in Michigan 3 days after being shut down by the court. It is a very challenging struggle for organizations and people to fight against large corporations in the legal system.
What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why?
The best example of how corporations are exploiting developing nations for their water is through inflating the prices to unreasonable levels. The comparisons of the price of Coke-Cola to Dasani water while the Coke-Cola representative flat out lied about how the price is driven by the bottle material and the content. Another convincing part of the film was the example of how citizens fought against nestle in Wisconsin and Michigan. This part of the film demonstrated just how hard it is for local people to fight against corporations. The example of civil unrest in Bolivia was a very graphic example of how water issues will be dominant issues in the coming decades.
What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by? Why?
I was not thoroughly convinced that the depletion of aquifers is resulting in sink holes. There did not seem to be enough examples of sink hole formation and the film did not go in depth enough about how removing water in the aquifer would destabilize the soil. Additionally I was not convinced that the asphalt blocking the rain water was as severe as stated. Although I understand that there are sever water runoff issues due to the urban effect I think that there should have been better data presented on how much water is being blocked from draining into the aquifers. I was also not convinced by the connections that the film drew between Vincente Fox and Coke-Cola. The film made the connection that Fox had worked for Coke, but the accusations of special interest could be explained away as coincidental. There should have been more data to support Fox’s involvement with Coke after he was elected president. Showing a plethora of pictures of Coke in Mexico did not convince me because Coke is such global brand that a similar collage could be made for almost every place around the globe.
What audiences does the film best address? Why?
This film best addresses people that are skeptical that water management and water scarcity are severe issues. This is for the people who believe that although the water cycle is infinite and that we cannot run out of potable water. The examples that were presented were very dramatic and at some points graphic. This movie was meant to be a wake up and a call to action for those that were previously unfamiliar with the issue. The solutions that were presented ranged from large scale changes to individual interventions. This affords viewers the information necessary to help be a part of the solution at whatever level they can best help; whether they begin to organize grassroots efforts to effectively manage local water supplies or just make small changes to how they water their lawns.
What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value?
The information about the amount of water used for creating a barrel of oil or the amount of oil used in certain industrial processes should have been broken down into subcategories. It would have helped to know what that water was used for rather than just making a blanket statement about how much water to use. The subcategories would have helped the view to think of points of intervention to make changes to the process and see where water is being wasted. Another piece of information that could have been implemented in the movie would have been a study of the destruction of wetlands. The film never explained why the wetlands were so significant or how they were being destroyed.
What kinds of actions and points of intervention are suggested by the film? If the film itself does not suggest corrective action, describe actions that you can imagine being effective.
The film suggests that the best way to preserve the world water resources is to convert water from a commodity back to a public trust. This will allow for the local governments to control the use of their local water supplies as opposed to having large corporation buying, selling, misusing, or exporting the local water supplies. Citizens must also unite, as exemplified by the people of Wisconsin and Michigan, to fight corporate exploitation of water resources. On a design level sidewalks should be designed to allow water to permeate into the soil rather then run off into the rivers and streams. Water Collection holes should be dug to allow the rain water to permeate back into the soil after a rain storm instead of running off. The agriculture system should switch over to hydroponics that are connected to living machines that can clean, purify, and add nutrients to back into the water. In a personal manner individuals need to learn to conserve water when using the bathroom and through their lawn care practices.
What additional information has this film compelled you to seek out?
This film made me extremely interested in SLAPP suits. My first matrix presentation is based off corporate intimidation of activists and activist groups. For further information please read my matrix1 presentation at Sshh! The Silencing of Democracy.